Indian States by Population 2023

India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, a total of 36 numbers. According to Census Population Projection Report, India’s Population in 2023 is estimated at 13,88,163,000 (1.39 Billion or 139 Crore).

Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India and Sikkim is the least populated State. Delhi is the Union Territory with the highest population and Lakshadweep is the least populated Union Territory.

Source: Census 2011 & Census Population Projection report

read more about Population of India

Statewise Population of India 2023

Uttar Pradesh is the highest-population state in India followed by Maharashtra and Bihar. By the year  2024, Bihar’s population will surpass Maharashtra and will become the number two state by population. Similarly, Rajasthan which is at 7 ranks has surpassed Tamil Nadu and is now at number 6, and Gujrat which is at Nine ranks in the 2011 census has surpassed Karnataka and is now at number eight.

Sikkim is the least populated state followed by Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh.

Let’s have a look at the population of States & Union Territories.

RankStates2011 Census2023 estimates
1Uttar Pradesh19,98,12,3412,35,687,000
2Maharashtra11,23,74,3331,26,385,000
3Bihar10,40,99,4521,26,756,000
4West Bengal9,12,76,11599,084,000
5Madhya Pradesh7,26,26,80986,579,000
6Tamil Nadu7,21,47,03076,860,000
7Rajasthan6,85,48,43781,025,000
8Karnataka6,10,95,29767,692,000
9Gujarat6,04,39,69271,507,000
10Andhra Pradesh49,386,79953,156,000
11Odisha4,19,74,21846,276,000
12Telangana35,193,97838,090,000
13Kerala3,34,06,06135,776,000
14Jharkhand3,29,88,13439,466,000
15Assam3,12,05,57635,713,000
16Punjab2,77,43,33830,730,000
17Chhattisgarh2,55,45,19830,180,000
18Haryana2,53,51,46230,209,000
UT1Delhi1,67,87,94121,359,000
UT2Jammu & Kashmir1,22,58,43313,603,000
19Uttarakhand1,00,86,29211,637,000
20Himachal Pradesh68,64,6027,468,000
21Tripura36,73,9174,147,000
22Meghalaya29,66,8893,349,000
23Manipur28,55,7943,223,000
24Nagaland19,78,5022,233,000
25Goa14,58,5451,575,000
26Arunachal Pradesh13,83,7271,562,000
UT3Puducherry12,47,9531,646,000
27Mizoram10,97,2061,238,000
UT4Chandigarh10,55,4501,231,000
28Sikkim6,10,577689,000
UT5Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu5,86,9561,263,000
UT6Andaman & Nicobar3,80,581403,000
UT7Ladakh274,289300,000
UT8Lakshadweep64,47369,000

Source: Census 2011 & Census Population Projection report

Indian states with highest population

Uttar Pradesh is the most populated state in India. The top 5 populated states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.  In 2011 Maharashtra is at 2nd Spot, but Bihar with a higher growth rate (approx 20%) is very close to Maharashtra by 2023-24 it will be at the second spot.

Almost half of the country’s population lives in these five highest populous states & the Ten most populated states of India contribute 74% of India’s population. Bihar has the highest population growth rate during this decade followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The list of the 10 Largest states in India by population is as follows

RankStates2022 estimates
1Uttar Pradesh23.32 Crores
2Maharashtra12.54 Crores
3Bihar12.49 Crores
4West Bengal9.86 Crores
5Madhya Pradesh8.55 Crores
7Rajasthan8 Crores
6Tamil Nadu7.66 Crores
8Gujarat7 Crores
9Karnataka6.72 Crores
10Andhra Pradesh5.30 Crores


Source: Census 2011 & Census estimates 2022

Least Populated States 2022

Sikkim is the least populated state followed by Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh. 12 least populous states/UTs contribute only 1 % of India’s population and the 21 lowest constitute only 10 % of the total.

RankStates2021 (estimates)
1Sikkim6.77 Lakhs
2Mizoram12.16 Lakhs
3Arunachal Pradesh15.33 Lakhs
4Goa16 Lakhs
5Nagaland22 Lakhs
6Manipur31.65 Lakhs
7Meghalaya33 Lakhs
8Tripura41 Lakhs
9Himachal Pradesh74 Lakhs

Source: Census 2011 and Census Estimates 2022

Indiam Union Territories by Population 2022

India has 8 union territories, Delhi with close to 20 million population is the largest & Lakshadweep is with a population of 74K is the smallest. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are newly formed UTs.

RankUTs2021 (estimates)
1Delhi2 Crores
2Jammu & Kashmir1.34 Crores
3Puducherry15.71 Lakhs
4Chandigarh12 Lakhs
5Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu10.77 Lakhs
6Andaman & Nicobar4 Lakhs
7Ladakh2.97 Lakhs
8Lakshadweep68000

Source: Census Estimates

Indian States with Highest Growth Rate 2022

As per estimates, India’s growth rate is approx 12.56% for 2011-2021. Bihar has the highest population growth rate during 2011-2021 of 18.16% followed by Jharkhand and Haryana.

RankStatesGrowth Rate
1Bihar18.16%
2Jharkhand16.71%
3Haryana16.36%
4Madhya Pradesh16.35%
5Rajasthan15.54%
6Gujarat15.49%
7Chhattisgarh15.48%
8Uttar Pradesh15.11%
9Uttarakhand13.02%
10Assam12.16%

Source: Census 2011 

Indian States with Lowest Growth Rate 2022

As per estimates, India’s growth rate is approx 14% for 2011-2021. 10 States have grown at a rate below 10%. In the 2011 census, most of the South & Western Indian States have a growth rate below the national average  & in 2021 also they have a low growth rate. Tamilnadu is a state with the least growth rate followed by Kerala & Andhra Pradesh

RankStatesGrowth Rate
1Tamil Nadu6.03%
2Kerala6.27%
3Andhra Pradesh6.30%
4West Bengal7.37%
5Himachal Pradesh7.80%
6Punjab8.13%
7Odisha8.40%
8Telangana8.56%
9Karnataka9.66%
10Goa9.70%

Source: Census 2011 

Top Indian States and Union Territories by Area

The top 5 states area-wise are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh & Gujarat. Ladakh is Largest Union Territory by Area followed by Jammu & Kashmir. Goa is the smallest State by Area & Lakshadweep is the smallest Union Territory.

List of Indians States with Area & Density

RankStates/UTArea (sq. km)Density* (p/km2)
1Rajasthan342,239241
2Madhya Pradesh308,245282
3Maharashtra307,713404
4Uttar Pradesh240,928996
5Gujarat196,024328
6Karnataka191,791356
7Andhra Pradesh162,968334
8Chhattisgarh135,191220
9Tamil Nadu130,051604
10Telangana112,077355
11Ladakh96,7013
12Bihar94,1631349
13West Bengal88,7521127
14Arunachal Pradesh83,74319
15Jharkhand79,714492
16Assam78,438459
17Odisha55,707842
18Himachal Pradesh55,673135
19Uttarakhand53,483213
20Punjab50,362596
21Haryana44,212645
22Jammu & Kashmir42,241327
23Kerala38,863926
24Meghalaya22,429152
25Manipur22,327143
26Mizoram21,08160
27Nagaland16,579139
28Tripura10,486401
29Andaman & Nicobar8,24951
30Sikkim7,096986
31Goa3,702432
32Delhi1,48412803
33Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu6031028
34Puducherry4792990
35Chandigarh11410254
36Lakshadweep322317


Source: Census 2011 & UIAI for 2021 Estimates* Density based on 2021 Estimtes

Largest & Smallest State by Area
#State/UTArea (sq. km)
Largest StateRajasthan342,239 km2
Largest UTLadakh96,701 km2
Smallest StateGoa3,702 km2
Smallest UTLakshadweep32 km2
Largest & Smallest State by Density
#State/UTDensity (p/km2)
Highest Density StateBihar1349 p/km2
Highest Density UTDelhi12803 p/km2
Least Density StateArunachal Pradesh19 p/km2
Least Density UTLadakh3 p/km2

* Density based on 2021 Estimates

Indian States by Literary Rate

As per the 2011 Census, India’s literacy rate in 2011 is 73%. The male literacy rate is 80.90% & the female literacy rate is 64.60%. The literacy rate in Urban is 84.10% & 67.80% in rural India. Kerala has the highest literacy rate ( 94%) & Andhra Pradesh (67%) is the lowest.

read more about Literacy rate in India

Indian States by Female Sex Ratio at birth

The sex ratio at birth In India for the period 2015-17 (3-years average) has been estimated at 896. At the National level, it is 898 in rural areas and 890 in urban areas. Among the bigger States/UTs, the sex ratio at birth varies from 961 in Chhattisgarh to 833 in Haryana.

In the rural areas, the highest and the lowest sex ratio at birth are in the States of Chhattisgarh (985) and Haryana (828) respectively. The sex ratio at birth in urban areas varies from 950 in Madhya Pradesh to 816 in Uttarakhand. Chart 32 depicts the variation in sex ratio at birth by residence among bigger States/UTs in the country.

Read more about Sex ratio in India and states


Indian States by Area


Indian States by Religion


Indian States by Fertility Rate


Indian States by Literacy Rate


Most Populated Cities


List of distrits in India


Indian States by Sex ratio

Top Indian States by Population | Statewise Population of India 2023
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